Winning business from new clients such as Sagetis Biotech and Cellerix this year has helped solidify Carpmaels & Ransford's reputation as a go-to shop for patent prosecution work. Rivals credit the 15-partner firm as being "solid", having "a lot of good people", and one even said he wouldn't hesitate to transfer work to the Carpmaels team. The firm grew with the promotion of John Brunner to partner and adding at least nine new patent and trade mark attorneys to its roster. In a highlight case, the biotechnology team acted for Eli Lilly in its opposition to Human Genome Sciences' patent on neutrokine alpha, which reached the UK Court of Appeal. A rare entitlement dispute in Basle last year saw Novartis turn to Carpmaels in its defence against GlaxoSmithKline over the right to file. The firm represents five of the world's top 10 pharmaceutical companies.